Hello, I was wondering if there was a permit I could obtain allowing me tocollect tree specimens within the parks. These specimens would be small.I'm not looking into cutting down any trees or anything like that. Anyinformation would be greatly helpful. Thank you.

Regards,

Joe Hatfield

Dear Ms.Nordeen

The reason for collection would be for the purpose of Bonsai material. Scientific research would be conducted but on a novice level and without official documentation. I of course would be happy to abide by any rules, following allowance, in regard to species, area, etc.Thank you for your time and efforts.

Kind Regards

Dear Mr. Hatfield-

Based on the information you have provided, your request to collect plant/tree specimens within Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area would not be permitted under federal law, as well as National Park Service regulations and policies.

Federal law prohibits the taking of plants, fish, wildlife, rocks or minerals, except of flowers, rocks, and fossils from the park, except in accordance with the terms and conditions of a speciment collection permit.36 CFR 2.5 governs research speciments and states: A specimen collection permit may be issued only to an official representative of a reputable scientific or educational institution or a State or Federal agency for the purpose of research, baseline inventories, monitoring, impact analysis, group study, or museum display when the superintendent determines that the collection is necessary to the stated scientific or resource management goals of the institution or agency and that all applicable Federal and State permits have been acquired, and that the intended use of the specimens and their final disposal is in accordance with applicable law and Federal administrative policies. A permit shall not be issued if removal of the specimen would result in damage to other natural or cultural resources, affect adversely environmental or scenic values, or if the specimen is readily available outside of the park area.

I have received permits to collect trees in Minnesota, Wyoming, South Dakota and Arkansas but in national forests only!

Please note the word FOREST these are different than parks and legally we can get permits to collect. Each forest service has different guidelines and quantities you may collect and some are free whereas others charge per tree. When applying for a permit you must go to a national forest service office and talk to the ranger about your plans. Know what kind of trees you will be taking , the number of trees, and that you are not using the collected trees for a business. This is your hobby and the trees are for you.

While in Wyoming there was a small mountain which was being clear cut so we stopped to ask who owned this property. The worker gave us a name of a rancher and we received permission to collect on his land... so private collecting is an option but you should get the owners permission.

Careful, Norma! Us Geezers tend to get "young" again as we get older, and it's an unpleasant process! I'd only wish I were not quite as old as I am. That's safe.

Joe . . . You should be able to apply for a collecting permit by mail. The head office of the National Forest in your state would issue them. BUT . . . There will only be a few ares of the forest where you'd really want to collect, so a few visits to scout out sites would be advisable and to talk to regional foresters. They you can ask for a permit for a certain area. (Also ask for topo maps.)

_________________Jim Lewis - lewisjk@windstream.net - Western NC - People, when Columbus discovered this country, it was plumb full of nuts and berries. And I'm right here to tell you the berries are just about all gone. Uncle Dave Macon, old-time country musician

The only problem I had getting a permit was in Arkansas. The ranger had never heard of this national allowance and I had to show him the permits I had received from other states. I suppose you could inquire by mail but I think a personal one-on-one request gets better results. Perhaps a search for this national forest provision (online) could be done to legitimize your request.

State forests usually are much more liberal about collecting. They also are often less desirable places to collect and exist solely for the benefit of the pulp and paper industry, though I suppose there are exceptions.

_________________Jim Lewis - lewisjk@windstream.net - Western NC - People, when Columbus discovered this country, it was plumb full of nuts and berries. And I'm right here to tell you the berries are just about all gone. Uncle Dave Macon, old-time country musician

Another resource that anyone looking for collecting spots should be using, before applying for any permits, is Google Earth. If there are recent high resolution satellite images of the area, you are really in luck. Use the tilt control slider on the right to view the perspective of hilly areas quite convincingly. On some you can make out small trees, but even on the less detailed you can certainly see things like quarries and work out whether there is any vegetation.

In all the manmade forested areas that I know, the roads are constructed from locally quarried materials. This means that there are often disused small quarries dotted around all over the forests. These are usually good places to collect as pines germinate readily in the thin stony soils and their growth is restricted in the shallow pockets of gritty soil.

I know of several prospective collecting areas that have been identified in this way.

_________________“It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent. It is the one that is the most adaptable to change.” - Charles Darwin.

hmm, Kev he won't be around in the uk. but don't give the youngsters all the playing cards!!!

I am not in the us. here in Holland we can get permits to dig out small tree's up to one meterin that case bring along a saw!!! but it doesn't give them the idea that u are picking up tallest of lumber!

anybody give me any tips about this in england? I've got my eye on a couple of pieces in a wetladf in coventry. There's a small oak stump which has clearly been snapped off by somebody and is just delightful, and a number of oaks and hawthorns with my name on them too. Not sure of how to go about it legitimately though.

bobby little wrote:anybody give me any tips about this in england? I've got my eye on a couple of pieces in a wetladf in coventry. There's a small oak stump which has clearly been snapped off by somebody and is just delightful, and a number of oaks and hawthorns with my name on them too. Not sure of how to go about it legitimately though.

bobby little wrote:anybody give me any tips about this in england? I've got my eye on a couple of pieces in a wetladf in coventry. There's a small oak stump which has clearly been snapped off by somebody and is just delightful, and a number of oaks and hawthorns with my name on them too. Not sure of how to go about it legitimately though.

You have to find out who owns the land and then work out the best way to approach them. Sometimes an honest and simple request and explanation what you want them for works, sometimes it doesn't. I tend to concentrate on "rescues" when I notice a garden renewal or builder clearing a hedge etc. More often than not it doesn't work, as everyone is paranoid about public liability insurance. Occasionally you can drop lucky though.

Sometimes a more official written request is required.

Our club has arranged permits through the Forestry Commission for about 15 years. It takes a great effort in terms of research, paperwork and recconaisance but has been well worthwhile.

My greatest success came from rescuing a crag-fast sheep for a local farmer. That earned me collecting rights on a great limestone clifftop, which Tony enjoyed with me a few years ago.

Just make sure that whatever you do, you obtain permission first and collect responsibly.

_________________“It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent. It is the one that is the most adaptable to change.” - Charles Darwin.

Put em up....Put em up. With the freedom of information act, there are plenty of websites giving out the sort of info your after. Failing that, the land registry will help you for a small fee. Asking around locally is also a good way of gleaning information. Farmers etc...